Automobile jack-truck.



O. H. AMES.

AUTOMOBILE JACK TRUCK.

1,014,992 v APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2, 1911. Patented Jan 16 2SHEETS-SHEET I.

aim v H IIIHI lllin O. H. AMES.

AUTOMOBILE JACK TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2, 1911.

Patented Jan. 16, 191.2.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANuGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

1E STAT OSCAR AMES, OF COAL HILL, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TOROBERT MGCALMONT, 0F FRANKLIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMOBILE JACK-TRUCK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR H. AMns, a citizen of the United States,residing at Coal Hill, in the county of Venango and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomob-ile J ack-Trucks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an automobile jack truck, and has for its objectto provicle certain novel and improved constructions, arrangements anddevices in automobile jack trucks which will be hereinafter describedand claimed.

A primary and specific object of the invention is to improve upon thetype of ack truck shown in my pending application Serial No. 526,397,filed November 5, 1909, the improvement consisting in providing thedevice with means for efiectually preventing it, under all conditions,from dumping its load. Experience has shown that where an automobile issupported on a pair of jack trucks of the kind referred to, and theautomobile is moved from place to place there is a tendency,particularly when the floor or other surface over which the machine ismoved is rough or uneven, for one or other of the jack trucks to tiltout of its operative position under the axle. This tendency tounstability is prevented by the construction shown herein.

The improvements constituting the present invention are illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 shows an elevation of anautomobile jack truck, with certain parts in section, the device beingshown as supporting the front axle of an automobile; Fig. 2, an endelevation of the device .with the parts in the position which theyassume when the device is first applied to the axle; Fig. 3, a similarview showing the parts in theiroperative position; Fig. 4, a plan viewof the jacktruck; Figs. 5 and 6, sectional elevations of'a modified formof device, showing the parts in different positions; Figs. 7 and 8,fragmentary sectional views illustrating the form of locking mechanismshown in Figs. 5 .and 6, Fig. 9, a fragmentary view,'in perspective, ofthe latch, and Fig. 10, a fragmentary sectional plan showing the partsillustrated in Figs. 7 and 8.

Like characters of reference indicate like L Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed February 2, 1911.

Patented Jan. 16,1912.

Serial No. 606,193.

parts in the several figures of the drawmgs.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4: inclusive, 15 designates an axle of anautomobile, the wheels of which are shown diagrammatically at 16. 17, 17are standards formed with threaded sockets to receive the threaded stems18 of the axle supporting devices 19, which may be of any preferredconstruction, and provided at their lower ends with rollers, preferablywith the swiveled casters 20. The standards 17 are rigidly connectedwith a cross piece formed of the two sections 21, 21. For example, thestandards may be formed with sockets 22 which extend over the ends ofthe cross piece and are secured thereto by the pins 23. The sections 21forming the cross piece are secured in a cross 27 to which is secured alongitudinal sustaining member 2 1, the latter being preferably madehollow so as to receive the end of the extension piece or lever 25. Thesustaining member'2t is preferably provided with a caster 26. At theother side of the cross piece is a sustaining member which has a hingedrelationship with the rigid structure above described. For example, inthe particular construction shown,

the sustaining member 28 is hinged, by

means of a pivot 29, to the cross 27. Preferably the sustaining member28 and the cross 27 are formed with abutments 30, 31 which come togetherin such manner that with the roller of caster 26 in contact with theground the roller of. the similar caster 32 on the hinged sustainingmember 28 is raised a trifle above the ground. This arrangement is notessential. The purpose of it is to facilitate the movement of the jacktruck by makingit athree wheel instead 0f a four wheel truck. tionshipof the rocking portion of the truck and the sustaining member 28 is topermit- The hinged relat-he former to be turned into the obliqueposition which it assumes when first applied to the axle. In order togive a rigid relation between the sustaining member 28 and the rockingportion of the device when the latter is in its elevating or operativeposition, a locking mechanism is provided such as that shown in Figs. 1to 4 inclusive or,

preferably, such as that shown in Figs. 5 to 10 inclusive. 7 v

The locking mechanism of the first four figures consists of an angulardog 33 pivoted to a fork 34 on the cross 27, the end of which is adaptedto project into the space between the edges of cross 27 and thelongitudinal sustaining member 28. In order to make this engagementautomatic with the rocking of the rigid portion of the device into itsoperative position, a coiled spring 35 is interposed between the dog andthe rigid longitudinal member 24. In the arrangement shown in the firstfour figures the locking dog 33 has to be withdrawn from its lockingposition by the hand or foot when the standards are tilted forapplication to the axle. In the form of locking mechanism shown in Figs.5 to 10 the lock is released by merely thrusting the extension piece orlever into its socket. I11 this preferred form of jack truck the forwardsustaining member 36 is hinged by the pin 37 to the cross 38. Thesustaining member 39 extends through and projects a trifle beyond thecross as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 10. To the under side. of thesustaining member 36 is secured a spring latch 40 provided with thebeveled bolt 41 which is designed to enter a perforation 42 through thecross 38 and sustaining member 39. The tapered end 43 of the extensionlever 44 engages with the bolt 41 when the lever is thrust into themember 39 and pushes bolt 41 out of its locking position. The crosspiece rigidly connecting the standards with the member 39 is made in twosections 45, 45, as shown particularly in Fig. 10. The construction ofthe modification shown in Figs. 5 to 10 may be in other respects thesame as that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown the stems 46 of the axle supportingdevices formed with oil-sets 47 adapting the jack truck to be used in anaxle having truss rods.

The operation of the jack truck above described is as follows: The truckis placed, with the axle supports 19 against the axle, with the rockingportion of the device tilted up as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The extensionlever 25 or 44, as the case may be, is put into the socket formed in therigid sustaining member 24 or 39, and the rocking portion of the devicerocked, with the rollers of casters 20 as a movable fulcrum,

into the position shown in Figs. 3 and 6. This raises the axle inquestion enough to lift its wheels from the ground. With both axlessupported in this way the automobile may be pushed from place to place.Any tendency of the jack trucks to turn out of position is counteractedby casters 32 coming into contact with the ground.

lVhile I have described certain preferred constructions embodying myinvention, it will be readily understood that there might be somestructural modifications made without departure from my invention.Therefore I do not limit myself to the particulars shown and describedexcept so far as the same are made specifically limitations 0 certain ofthe claims herein.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described, comprising in combination a pairof axle supports provided at their upper ends with means adapted tosustain the opposite ends of a vehicle axle and at their lower ends withrollers, a cross piece rigidly connected with said standards, meanscomprising a hand lever for rocking said standards into position to liftthe axle of said vehicle, longitudinal sustaining members on oppositesides of said cross piece, and locking means for maintaining saidstandards in their elevating position.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a pair of axlesupports provided at their upper ends with means adapted to sustaintheopposite ends of a vehicle axle and at their lowerends with rollers, across piece connecting said standards, means comprising a hand lever forrocking said standards into position to lift the axle of said vehicle,longitudinal sustaining members on opposite sides of said cross piece,and looking means for maintaining said standards in their elevatingposition.

3. A device of the character described relation to each other providedwitha rolling bearing on the ground and adapted to be rocked so as toelevate the axle, and sustaining members on opposite sides of saidsupports, one of which is rigid with said supports and the other havinga hinged relation thereto.

4. A device of the character described comprising a pair of axlesupports in rigid relation to each other provided with a rolling bearingon the ground and adapted to be rocked so as to elevate the axle,sustaining members on opposite sides of said supports, one of which isrigid with said supports, and the other having a hinged relationthereto, and a locking mechanism for holding the hinged sustainingmember in rigid relationship with the rest of the structure.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with axlesupports provided at their lowerends with rollers, of a cross piece towhich said supports are rigidly connected, a longitudinal sustainingmember rigid with said cross piece, a longitudinal sustaining memberhinged to the other side of said cross piece, and locking mechanism forholding said hinged sustaining member in rigid relationship with therest of the structure when the axle supports are in operative position.7

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with axlesupports provided at their lower ends with rollers, of a cross piece towhich said supports are rigidly connected, a longitudinal sustainingmember rigid with said cross piece, a longitudinal sustaining memberhinged to the other side of said cross piece, locking mechanismiorholding said hinged sustaining member in rigid relationship with therest of the structure when the axle supports are in operative position,and rollers on the extremities of said longitudinal supporting members.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with axlesupportsprovided at their lower ends with rollers, of a cross piece towhich said supports are rigidly connected, a longitudinal sustainingmember rigid with said cross piece, a longitudinal sustaining memberhinged to the other side of said cross piece, locking mechanism forholding said hinged sustaining member in rigid relationship with therest of the structure when the axle supports are in operative position,and a lever to rock said axle supports adapted to engage with andrelease said locking mechanism.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with axlesupports provided at their lower ends with rollers, ofa cross piece towhich said supports are rigidly connected, a longitudinal sustainingmember rigid with said cross piece, a longitudinal sustaining memberhinged to the other side of said cross piece; the rigid sustainingmember being hollow and formed with a perforation, a latch on saidhinged sustaining member adapted to extend into said perforation in therigid sustaining member, and a removable lever adapted to be received insaid rigid sustaining member and to force said latch out of lockingposition.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rigidaxle supporting structure provided with rollers and adapted to be rockedso as to elevate the axle, of a longitudinal sustaining member hingedthereto, a latch for holding said rigid structure and sustaining memberin rigid relation, and a removable lever for rocking said rigidstructure adapted to disengage said latch.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with arocking structure comprising a pair of axle supports provided at theirupper ends with means adapted to sustain the opposite ends of a vehicleaxle and a cross piece rigidly connecting said supports, of alongitudinally extending sustaining member with which said rockingstructure has a hinged relation, and means comprising a hand lever forrocking said rocking structure into position to raise said axle.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with arocking structure comprising a pair of axle supports provided at theirupper ends with means adapted to sustain the opposite ends of a vehicleaxle and a cross piece rigidly connecting said supports, of alongitudinally extending sustaining member with which said rockingstructure has a hinged relation, means comprising a hand lever forrocking said rocking structure into position to raise said axle, andmeans for locking said rocking structure in substantially rigid relationwith said sustaining member.

OSCAR H. AMES. Witnesses:

J 0s. W. BARR, HELEN R. STEUART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 1.

